Loving
Read 1 Peter 1 v 22-25
- - What does Peter remind us about what has happened to true Christians (v 23)?
- - How did God bring about this event (v 23, 25)?
- - What is the difference between being born physically, and being "born again" (v 24-25)?
- - What does "obeying the truth" as we live as God's children produce in us (v 22)?
The Greek word translated “sincere” means abundantly, eagerly, gushingly. We might think: Loving like that would be embarrassing; I could lose face; I may overextend; I would be too vulnerable. But the gospel says: God’s love towards us is this kind of sincere love. The new, born-again you will reflect this love.
You and I are in no danger of loving too sincerely or deeply! But we are in serious danger of loving too moderately, too guardedly, too selectively.
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APPLY
Read 1 John 4 v 9-12
- - Who do you know who loves you with this God-inspired sincere love? Thank God for them now.
- - Who do you know who you need to start loving with this kind of love? What will that mean in practice?
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Longing
Read 2 v 1-3
- - Who does Peter picture us as being like (v 2)?
- - What does he want us to do (v 2)?
- - What will the "pure spiritual milk" of the gospel message enable us to do (v 2)?
If you want to grow, all you need is an appetite, a longing for good food. And this longing is not only about head knowledge: it's a matter of the heart. We grow by head and heart together. We grow by head and heart together. We don't have to be smart, just hungry!
- - What mustn't we "feed" on (v 1)? What do each of these things look like in everyday life?
These sins can be delicious. But they're junk food. They kill our appetite for pure spiritual milk, and they make us sick and weak.
Instead, we need the food that helps us grow up as Christians--food that truly satisfies. We need to keep tasting the Lord (v 3) and His goodness. We grow up in the same way we were born--by enjoying God through His eternal word.
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PRAY
Thank God for His goodness. Ask Him to make His goodness so real to you that you just want more and more of it.
Thank Him that He wants us to grow in our faith and godliness. Ask Him to give you a greater and greater longing for the spiritual milk we all need.
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from The Good Book Company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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